Man receives 25 years after pleading guilty to neglect

From staff reports

Published: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 5:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 5:20 p.m.

A Spartanburg man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after admitting to neglecting his father until the older man died in his care. Phillip Mitchell, 28, of 209 Collins Avenue pleaded guilty Tuesday to neglect resulting in death of Phillip Sullivan, 54.

The plea came shortly after opening statements in what was to be Mitchellís trial before Circuit Judge Roger Couch.

Spartanburg police found Sullivan dead, lying naked on a couch at the home the father and son shared on July 12, 2007. They arrested Mitchell three months later after an autopsy showed neglect ó including emaciation and dehydration ó was a contributing factor in Sullivanís death.

According to the 7th Circuit Solicitorís Office, Sullivan, who had suffered a series of strokes in the past, had visible bed sores and other wounds. He had lived with his son for about three months before he died, after Mitchell moved him out of a nursing home and began cashing his fatherís Social Security checks for himself.

Prosecutors said Mitchell deprived his father of food, water and other basic care, causing his weight to drop from about 148 pounds to 106 pounds in the months prior to his death. Witnesses told police they saw Mitchell hide his fatherís food and make him search for it, lock his father in his bedroom and let him go weeks without giving him a bath. According to the solicitorís office, witnesses also said they heard Mitchell curse and scream when his father urinated on himself.

Mitchell must serve 85 percent of his sentenced before he is eligible for release.

<p>A Spartanburg man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after admitting to neglecting his father until the older man died in his care. Phillip Mitchell, 28, of 209 Collins Avenue pleaded guilty Tuesday to neglect resulting in death of Phillip Sullivan, 54.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>The plea came shortly after opening statements in what was to be Mitchell’s trial before Circuit Judge Roger Couch.</p><p>Spartanburg police found Sullivan dead, lying naked on a couch at the home the father and son shared on July 12, 2007. They arrested Mitchell three months later after an autopsy showed neglect  including emaciation and dehydration  was a contributing factor in Sullivan’s death.</p><p>According to the 7th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Sullivan, who had suffered a series of strokes in the past, had visible bed sores and other wounds. He had lived with his son for about three months before he died, after Mitchell moved him out of a nursing home and began cashing his father’s Social Security checks for himself.</p><p>Prosecutors said Mitchell deprived his father of food, water and other basic care, causing his weight to drop from about 148 pounds to 106 pounds in the months prior to his death. Witnesses told police they saw Mitchell hide his father’s food and make him search for it, lock his father in his bedroom and let him go weeks without giving him a bath. According to the solicitor’s office, witnesses also said they heard Mitchell curse and scream when his father urinated on himself.</p><p>Mitchell must serve 85 percent of his sentenced before he is eligible for release.</p>